Type cleaner for typewriting machines



Feb. 12, 1946. w. GOULD TYPE CLEANER FOR TYPEWRITING MACHINES Filed Sept. l2, 1944 I 9,2 Inventor Wu UAM L. 60m D,

By zwwisz Patented Feb. 12, 1946 TYPE CLEANER FOR TYPEWRITING MACHINES William L. Gould, Albany, N. Y. Application September 12, 1944, Serial No. 553,739 6 Claims. (Cl. IS7-184) The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in cleaners for the type of typewriting machines, and has for one of its important objects to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, an article of this character which is adapted to be expeditiously mounted for use on the platen of the machine in the same manner 'that a sheet of paper is inserted.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide a cleaner of the aforementioned character whereby the type may be rapidly and thoroughly cleaned by simply actuating the keys of the machine.

Other ob ects of the invention are to provide a typewritingl machine type cleaner which will be comparatively simple in construction, highly eiiicient and reliable in use and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view, showing a type cleaner constructed in accordance with the present invention mounted on the platen of a typewriting machine.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the cleaner shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a front elevational view of another form of the invention.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, and to Figures 1, 2 and 3 thereof in particular, it `will be seen that reference character I designate a paper sheet of suitable dimensions. The sheet I is adapted to be inserted in a conventional typewriting machine on the platen 2 hereof in the usual manner.

The sheet I has formed therein a plurality of spaced, parallel, transversely elongated windows or slots 3. Mounted on the back of the sheet I over the slots 3 is a plurality of adhesive strips 4 of suitable material. The marginal portions of the strips 4 adhere to the sheet I around the slots 3. The rest of the sticky sides of the strips 4 are adapted to be exposed through the slots 3.

Protective strips 5 of gauze or other suitable material are adhesively secured on the front of the sheet I above the slots 3. As illustrated to advantage in Figure 3 of the drawing, the strips 5, which are removable, extend over the slots 3 for covering and protecting the sticky surfaces of the adhesive strips l which would otherwise be exposed through said slots 3.

It is thought that the manner in which the i cleaner is used will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briey, the sheet I is inserted inthe typewriting machine on the platen 2 thereof and adjusted to position one of the adhesive. strips I in the path of the type 6 (see Fig. 3) of the machine. The protective cover 5 for this adhesive strip l is then removed from the sheet I and the ribbon of the machine is rendered inoperative. The keys of the machine are then operated to actuate the type 6 and engage said type with the exposed sticky surface of the strip 4 through the slots 3. In this manner all dirt, et cetera, is quickly and completely removed from the type with a minimum of effort.

In the form of the invention shown in Figure 4 of the drawing, reference character 1 designates a comparatively small sheet of paper or other suitable material to be mounted in the typewriting machine. The sheet 1 has formed therein a single transversely elongated window or slot 8 and has mounted thereon a single adhesive strip and a protective strip 9 therefor. In other respects, this form of the invention is substantially similar in construction to the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawing.

In the modification of Figures 5 and 6 of the drawing, an adhesive I0 is applied directly to the front of sheet II. The adhesive I0 is applied to the sheet II in spaced, parallel stripes extending transversely across said sheet. Removable protective strips I2 of gauze or other suitable material are provided for the adhesive stripes I0.

It is believed that the many advantages of a type cleaner embodying the present invention will be readily understood, and although preferred forms of the article are as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that further modifications and changes in the details of construction may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

`1. A type cleaner of the character described comprising a flexible sheet for insertion in a typewriting machine on the platen thereof, said sheet having a plurality of spaced, parallel, transverse slots therein, adhesive strips mounted on one side of the paper over the slots. the marginal portions of said strips adhering to the sheet around the slots, the remaining portions of the sticky sides of said strips being exposed through the slots.

and flexible protective strips for the adhesive strips mounted on the other side of the sheet over the slots. one of the longitudinal marginal portions of said protective strips being adhesively secured to the sheet immediately adjacent one of the longitudinal walls of the slots.

` 2. A type cleaner of the character described comprising a flexible sheet for insertion in a typewriting machine on the platen thereof, said sheet having thereon a plurality of spaced. pal'- allel, transverse adhesive stripes, andremovable protective strips for the stripes adhesively secured thereon.

3. A type cleaner for typewriting machines comprising a ilexible sheet for insertion in a typewriting machine on the platen thereof. and a plurality of spaced. narrow elongated areas of adhesive on the sheet extending transversely of and substantially from side to side of the latter. said sheet having substantially the same width as a sheet of typewriting paper. and being of a suitable length, whereby it may be adjusted by turning the platen to position any desired area of adhesive so that the types of the machine may be forced against the same by operating the keys of the machine. and whereby foreign matter in the types will adhere to and be removed from the types by the adhesive when said types are so forced against said adhesive.

4. A type cleaner of the character described comprising a flexible sheet adapted for insertion in a typewriting machine on the platen thereof, said sheet having an adhesive on one side thereof adapted to be struck by the types of said machine when the keys of the latter are operated, to remove ink and other foreign* matter from said types, and a plurality ofl protective strips covering said adhesive but adapted to be removed to expose successive zones of said adheaeoasss sive to said types, said sheet being of a length whereby it may be adjusted by turning the platen to positionA the desired zone of adhesive so that the types of the machine may be forced against the same.

5. A device for cleaning the-type on a' typewriting machine comprising a, sheet of flexible material of a width adapted to extend a substantial distance across the platen of said machine and to be inserted and run through said machine in the same way as a sheet of letter paper, said sheet having an adhesive. thereon adapted to be struck by the types of said machine when the 'keys of the latter are operated and to which ink and foreign matter on said types will adhere when said types strike said adhesive, and means for temporarily preventing said adhesive from contacting parts of said machine when the sheet is inserted and run through the latter.

6. A type cleaner for typewriting machines comprising a flexible sheet for insertion in a typewriting machine'on 'the platen thereof, adhesive on the sheet extending substantially from side to side of the latter, said sheet having substantially the same width as a sheet of typewriting paper and being of a suitable length, whereby it. may be adjusted by turning the platen to position any desired narrow transverse area of the adhesive so that the types of the machine may be forced against the same by operating the keys of the machine and whereby foreign matter in the types will adhere to and be removed from the types by the adhesive when said types are so forced against said adhesive, and a plurality of narrow transverse protective strips overlying said adhesive and-adapted to be selectively removed to expose the desired narrow transverse .area of said adhesive to said types.

WILLIAM L. COULD. 

